Devotion by: Rev. Barry Leonard
Anointed To Go Through - The 23rd Psalm There's a lot about that 1976 experience I don't remember. I don't remember thinking beforehand that it would be one of those "valley" experiences David describes in the 23rd Psalm. But, I do remember being prayed for and being at peace.
I remember the preparation for the medical tests and being rolled into surgery. And I even remember being aware of the medical staff around me in the operating room where my angiogram and arteriogram would be performed.
I don't remember most of what happened after they started the tests. I wasn't aware nor were the Doctors aware that I was having a severe reaction to the contrast die used to perform these tests. I definitely remember the burning pain in my head. But I don't remember my heart beat and breathing stopping. For one brief moment, I guess, I was clinically dead.
I was recently reminded of this experience by a comment made by one of our Church Members facing some tough circumstances, facing their own "valley" experience. Their comment was a statement of fact and a statement of faith: A statement of fact because every one of us must at some time walk through valley experiences. And it was a statement of faith because, for the believer in Christ Jesus, we don't walk that valley alone. Our Shepherd goes before us into the valley. That's what my friend said, Christians are well equipped and "anointed to go through," to go all the way through every valley that life throws in our path. Listen to what David, a shepherd himself, says in Psalm 23:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Life leads us into the valley. Make no mistake about it. Jesus, our deliverer - the "anointed one" - warned us that storms would come, on both those who build on shifting sand and on those who build on rock. But, He promised us that those who build upon "The Rock" will stand. This is great news when you're going into the valley.
But there is even greater news in Psalm 23. David said that he not only had an "anointed shepherd" to meet his everyday needs and go before him into the valley - the trial - the heartache - but he said that that very shepherd, Jesus, would also anoint him, David, to go through the valley, all the way through.
This is an even greater promise. That Jesus - our "anointed shepherd" - promises to personally anoint us to go all the way with Him, all the way through. If we trust Him and obey Him He will make sure we're anointed to make it through whatever valley experience we face.
Hallelujah! The Lord - "the anointed one" - is MY Shepherd. He brought me through my valley - my "shadow of death" experience - in 1976 and He will do the same for you.
I'm anointed and I'm going through. And so are you if you're following Jesus!
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Spiritual Ways of Living with Tragedy By Gregory S. Clapper Using his experience as a National Guard chaplain ministering to an airline disaster, Clapper offers hope for living with tragedy. His empathetic and confident statement of faith helps us see beyond the event and recognize God's presence in the midst of heartache. Clapper offers no easy answers but encourages Christians to confront, think about, and deal with whatever tragedy happens in a spiritual way.
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